I have to spread the info. Today I went to see a stand up comedian, Frédérick Sigrist, and I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised. Not knowing the guy, and having quickly read about him in the culture section of a free newspaper, it is true that I didn’t expect much coming in, but over the 1h15 of the show I must have spent a good 30 to 45 minutes laughing out loud. After passing the first impression of an unknown comic and getting over the exaggerated laughs of some guy in the back who seemed to show that he had his money’s worth, I got into the show which had amazingly well written transitions, and very good jokes (including fresh news from the past week or so, which means the guy actually updates his material regularly).

The best part is that until May 26th (basically the first month of the show), the entrance fee is only 3€s! Yes only 3€, and he personally collects donations at the exist, so you basically give what you think it was worth depending on what you can afford. The downside being that the show is in a small room with barely enough ventilation to breathe, especially considering it’s starting to get hot in Paris (only the strategic seats in the middle can enjoy the AC directed on them).

I was very surprised to read what appeared to be 2 antagonistic piece of info in the news. First I saw that Sandra Bullock was named worst actress of 2009, and then that she received an Academy Award for Best Actress. I knew that the Oscar was for her performance in the Blind Side, and I was wondering if other people considered the same performance as horrible. In fact it was for some other movie (All About Steve) that I haven’t even heard about.

Now back to the title, it’s a shame that Football (for Europeans, read American Football) isn’t popular enough in France (and Europe in general) to screen movies that talk about that sport. I think it was a good movie, but most important, based on a moving true story (around generosity, and hope). Thanks to my aunt, she insisted to watch it with me while I was in Canada, and I do not regret it.

For those with a remote interest in French politics and social issues, I would like to share something that raises a debate in France.

All over the french media, and on the internet we are talking about French minister (Minister of the Interior to be exact) caught saying words that can easily be qualified of racist.

In short what the conversation can be translated as follows:

Female voice – He eats pork and drinks beer!

Mr. Hortefeux – He does not match the prototype at all then! There is always one! When there is only one, it’s okay. It’s when there are many that problems begin.

To let you know what a beautiful democracy we live in, all Ministers (including the Prime Minister) support him completely. For his defense, the argument is that he was talking about “taking pictures…”. From the conversation, that is simply ridiculous.

Last reminder, you can barely be surprised of this situation when the current president is known for saying about our beautiful country: “France, either you love it or you leave it”.

+1 FOR THE FRENCH REPUBLIC! You gotta love democracy when it proves that the French majority is simply trying to hide its underlying racist nature. Naming ministers from African descent doesn’t change anything! You need to genuinely act in a tolerant way to lead by example, that is if you actually are convinced of what you preach….

What surprises me is the very little emotion that this affair has raised, and the lack of popular reaction.